It was estimated the cost (direct and indirect) of the treatment of 19 children infected by
HIV by vertical transmission, between July/2001 and June/2002. This is a descriptive study, in the pharmacoeconomy
area, in a cost-illness kind carried out in São Luís-Maranhão (Brazil). The total treatment cost of the
illness was R$ 84.965,59, the medicines were the most expensive item (88,6%), followed by the cost of consultation
(3,0%). The cost per patient using double or triple anti-retroviral therapy was R$ 1.660,33 and R$ 5.308,40,
respectively. It is realized the great amount of money spent in the treatment of this illness mainly, involving the
use of medicines.